Day 5: The 3 R’s of Conservation

FRIDAY! When arts and crafts were over, the campers lined up to hike to the Lodge for a presentation on the day’s theme, the three R’s of conservation: reduce, reuse, and recycle. The head of Chaa Creek’s Natural History Center and Butterfly Farm, Brion Young, gave a PowerPoint presentation that taught the campers not only about the benefits of being eco-friendly, but the extent to which one can be eco-friendly. For instance, part of Chaa Creek’s commitment to being eco-tourism is its commitment to its surrounding community. Not only donating ten percent of all room revenue to support the surrounding San Ignacio metropolitan community, but also the community of Chaa Creek itself.

They also listened to employees of each department about their duties, and how they are responsible to follow the three R’s. For instance, the head of housekeeping and laundry taught them the difference between ecologically responsible cleaning products and those that are not. Although the resort has to spend more money on these products, it reduces their carbon impact on the environment, and it upholds the honesty of Chaa Creek’s commitment to sustainable tourism. Even the chemicals used to treat the horses at the Chaa Creek Stables are eco-friendly!

Speaking of horses, after a macaroni and cheese lunch at the Lodge, the group split in two, with those who didn’t go horseback riding last time around going this time. Once again, those who had initial fears of the powerful creatures were mellowed once they understood how well trained they were!

Day 6: Belize Iguana Hatchery

The reigns were really loosened on the campers for their last full day of this 2015 Eco-Kids Summer Camp. After songs and breakfast, they made their own handbags out of recycled newspaper and reused cardboard and string. Their bags will act as totes for all of their arts and crafts they made during the week! After arts and crafts, the campers played Eco-Kids Jeopardy in their teams. Throughout the week, they were asked to take notes on the lectures, tours, and hikes that they engaged in for this specific reason. The Howler Monkeys and the Jaguars came out on top by thin margins over the Toucans and the Tapirs, and will receive extra special gifts on their way out of camp to take home. While the campers were working their brains hard, the counselors enjoyed sitting back and singing the Jeopardy theme song to put a little added distraction and suspense on the kids!

After Jeopardy, the eco-kids were anxious to get back on the Chaa Creek bus and head to town to visit the San Ignacio Green Iguana Hatchery. They saw baby Iguanas, a humongous adult Iguana, and even an oddly shaped Iguana with a bone deficiency due to lack of calcium in its body. They even got to hold them all, even though the Iguanas probably did more of the holding on than the campers did! There were lots of shrieks as the Iguanas crawled around their shoulders and even onto their heads.

Day 7: Closing Ceremonies & Talent Show For The Parents

The “best week of the year” as Mr. Levi likes to call it, always ends on a little bit of a somber note as the eco-kids see their parents arriving to pick them up and go home. However, not all joy is lost! Campers signed each other’s camp t shirts for memorabilia, helped clean up the camp by team, and had one last breakfast from Mr. Docio & co. before they performed their polished skits for their parents. It wasn’t just the parents that took interest in all the hard work their children put in during the week, though. Various members of the Lodge at Chaa Creek staff hiked up to the River Camp to watch the children perform as well! And of course, the Fleming family was front and center to see how the children enjoyed their learning experience and how they enjoyed being at the Macal River Camp.

The Jaguars, Toucans, Tapirs, and Howler Monkeys performed their skits one more time before enjoying a last lunch with their parents, catered straight from the Lodge. Appropriate thank you’s were given from kids, parents, campers, and counselors before the eco-kids received their diplomas, took a last group picture, mingled, exchanged hugs on their way out. This blogger even got caught up in the fun, while one tricky camper sneaked the camera away to take a few shots for himself! Even though it was a sad morning, everyone involved did their best to make sure that camp ended on a high note rather than a low one.

Although the 2015 Eco-Kids Camp is officially over, the lessons learned and the knowledge obtained about how to be ecologically sustainable and responsible will never leave the campers. But, more importantly, the bonds these campers made with each other, the counselors, and the Chaa Creek staff are now well molded! Campers were eager to exchange information to keep in touch, and a few were already asking Mr. Levi when the camp reunion will occur! Now, we anxiously wait for next year!

]]>0Belize Travel Bloghttp://chaacreek.com/belize-travel-blog/http://belize-travel-blog.chaacreek.com/?p=226732015-07-24T23:10:54Z2015-07-25T12:00:19ZBelize Eco Kids learnt all about Land Conservation!

songs: Joe Song

The journey of knowledge continued on Thursday at the Eco-Kids Camp as the campers learned about land conservation. After breakfast and arts and crafts, when the kids constructed their own wallets made of reused cardboard and recycled tape, they were summoned to the Chaa Creek Maya Organic Farm for a tour with big boss himself Mr. Mick!

The eco-kids learned how a large-scale ecologically sustainable farm is maintained, and learned the benefits of using entirely organic products, like organic compost and organic fertilizer. They were amazed to learn how the California Red Worms help decompose horse manure by removing bacteria and excreting Humus, which contains lots of useful natural minerals to help plants grow. And if you could only have seen their faces when they stuck their hands into the organic compost, which reaches temperatures between 110 and 120 degrees Fahrenheit!

Apart from all of the useful wisdom the eco-kids obtained during Mr. Mick’s tour of the farm, they also got to see and try some of the various produce that grows there, like Dragonfruit (or Pitajaya), Surinam Cherries, and Cohune Nuts, even if they had to work hard to crack the mini coconut-like exterior!

Before lunch, the eco-kids were lucky enough to have story time with Mrs. Lucy, whom they were meeting for the first time since coming to camp. She told them the story of how she and Mr. Mick came to Belize and started the resort, how they were disheartened to see Iguanas at the market and not by the river, and how that lit a fire in them to educate the country about ecological sustainability and the benefits of bringing eco-tourism to the interior of Belize. She was extremely pleased to hear that many of the eco-kids want to go into the eco-tourism industry when they grow up!

The eco-kids received an extra special lunch from Levi’s mother, Mrs. Deb, out of her food truck! Unfortunately though, they had to make the difficult decision between corn dogs, cheeseburgers, and chicken sandwiches, all with fresh Orange, Pineapple, and Tambrand juice. Here at Eco-Kids Camp, even lunch has lessons in ecological responsibility! Mrs. Deb told the eco-kids how every ingredient used in her food is fresh made inside the truck, so there is no worry about ingesting processed foods. Further than that, she does not issue any plastic containers; all of her baskets and papers are biodegradable. Her truck and her products were all constructed in Belize as well, showing to prove that anything can be done in this beautiful little country!

When the eco-kids returned to the River Camp, they were given time to practice their team songs and skits while the counselors prepared the area for the SPLASH PARTY. Baby shampoo and water soaked and slicked tarps that were placed on the grass for everyone to slide around on, while buckets filled with water balloons lined the area. It was a great way to cool down from the hot sun, and we were even lucky to get a little help from some afternoon showers! The Jaguars and the Toucans took the extra effort to get team face paint for the water war that ensued!

At night after dinner, the eco-kids played team games indoors before the counselors put on skits (with a lot of shaving cream). When the shaving cream came out, it was only a matter of time before everyone was covered white! As if they didn’t have enough fun in the shaving cream fight, the kids were allowed to choose their own cabins for a special sleepover night! Rooms were packed tight, beds were pushed together, and flashlights shone late into the night as the eco-kids strengthened their camp bonds.

As usual, it was another beautiful day in paradise here at Eco-Kids Camp, and most importantly, the campers are enjoying themselves and each other more and more each day. Tomorrow we will receive a presentation on the 3 R’s of conservation. Stay tuned!

Songs: I’m a nut, Disco, Joe Song

Twas an excellent and happy morning for the eco-kids as they received a pancake breakfast after singing their songs during morning muster! Many of the kids were so happy to eat flapjacks that they forgot about some of their fruit. (It’s always okay to indulge at camp!) After breakfast, they played what seemed to be their favorite group game yet! A spinoff of Dodgeball, John Wayne is a game that requires a cowboy (a la the name) and two deputies to ping opponents with balls to send them to jail. The inmates can then only be freed if a free player performs a special handshake with them one by one, without being hit by a ball in the process. Campers and counselors both worked up a sweat before the day’s activities started.

For arts and crafts, the eco-kids made beanbags out of bandanas and black beans that would be used for a later team game, and they even learned to sew in the process! (Most of the girls’ bags were a little more neatly sewn than the boys)
When everyone finished their beanbags, the campers went for a guided tour of the Ixchel Medicine Trail here at Chaa Creek with some of our naturalist experts. Before the tour started, though, the naturalists gave a short presentation and show and tell on the importance of medicinal plants, how to survive with them, and how they help make medicine today. For instance, they learned that to cure a tummy ache, all you need is a little boiled allspice seed. They even got to taste various medicinal plants boiled into tea, and not all of them were so sweet!

On the tour of the Ixchel Medicine Trail, named for the Mayan Goddess of healing, fertility, and the moon, the naturalists showed the children various trees, roots, leaves, and their uses. They learned that chewing Bullhorn Acacia bark helps slow the spread of toxins ingested from a snake bite (bet ya didn’t know that!) Apart from the educational aspect of the hike, the eco-kids got to see the national flower of Belize, the Black Orchid, in full bloom, and even had some special guests along the way!

After the hike, the campers sat down for lunch at the lodge again before splitting into two groups; one to go back to the pool, and the other to go for a horseback riding tour on the jungle trails at the resort. (The groups will flip flop and do the same thing Friday) While some campers were hesitant to jump on the giant animals at first, they all became comfortable once the horses took a few steps and they knew they were safe. Not one child that rode the horses regretted their decision, especially once the naturalist guides allowed them to trot for periods of time. The campers said that the trot was an absolutely exhilarating, humbling, and freeing experience!

When everyone returned to the camp, they were given optional time to practice their skits and songs in their teams for skit night on Friday. Already on the first day of practice, some teams had full songs prepared and ready to polish for the big show!
The eco-kids were all asking for seconds tonight when Mr. Docio and his family made an awesome Lasagna dinner with garlic bread. Some campers faked like they were starving just to get thirds. At the campfire after dinner the kids were upbeat and rowdy, so they listened to our camp counselor Erin deliver a hilarious story about all the bags of SHUSH he was given when as a child when he was too rowdy!

Each day is better than the last here at the Eco-Kids Camp, and it doesn’t seem like that trend is going to end! Please share our excitement with your friends and see us again tomorrow to join the kids as they go on a guided tour of the Maya Organic Farm with Mr. Mick and Mrs. Lucy Fleming.

Songs: Bug on the Wall & Boom Chicka Boom

A late start to the morning muster forced the counselors to enforce the exercise law for tardiness on the campers! In their team lines, the kids performed a set of jumping jacks and sit-ups, which got them especially hungry for breakfast! After they sang their morning songs, which were quite louder this day than the past, they sat down for Ham, Beans, Cheese, and Johnnycakes.

For arts and crafts time today, the campers focused on the definition of the three R’s of conservation: reduce, reuse, and recycle. With used bed cloth and recycled plastic bottles, they learned that they were reducing the number of bottle huggers and bags that people buy, as they made their own packs to carry water bottles and other small trinkets they may want! More importantly though, they had fun designing their own articles of fashion with their team mates and counselors.

Even despite the late start, the campers made up for lost time by reaching the Mayan site here at Chaa Creek half an hour ahead of schedule, probably because they were so excited for the animal spotting game along the way! Counselors set up small toy animals along the trail to the site for the campers to find, with the incentive of a sweet (or sour) prize at the end of the day!

Once everyone reached the Mayan site of over 70 on Chaa Creek’s grounds,Tunichelin, they rested in the shade away from the once again hot sun to have their snack. There, they listened to the Lodge at Chaa Creek’s longest serving naturalist expert and part Mayan, Miguel Choco, tell them that the site likely served as a market or suburban area to the much larger urban Mayan site they could see off in the distance through binoculars, Xunantunich.

As the hike to Tunichelin was a little longer than the bird watching hike the previous day, the eco-kids were as well a little more excited for lunch at the lodge followed by another swim at Mr. and Mrs. Fleming’s pool. There, they were also joined by Mr. Mick’s dog, Kaisa, who barked anxiously from inside the house wanting to join in on the fun!

When the campers returned to the River Camp from the pool, everyone played in a big game of kickball during free time! Then for the team games, the campers and counselors played an updated version of Maya Ball, throwing the ball through a hoop rather than using their hips. Unfortunately, the Jaguars, who lost their first game against the Toucans, faced the same fate as the ancient Mayans after their games. THEY WERE SACRIFICED (by lining them up for a water balloon bombardment). The winners of the team tournament were the Tapirs, who then had to take on the Hero Twins to defeat the evil forces of the underworld, just as the ancient Maya believed as well! When they defeated the Hero Twins (2 camp counselors in luchador masks) they were ecstatic to bombard them with water balloons also.

After a chicken barbeque dinner grilled by Mr. Docio himself, the children joined around the campfire before bed to listen to a Mayan folktale told by camp coordinator Levi Baldwin’s mother. And during that time, Levi himself was preparing fresh made popcorn over the campfire, just like the Mayans made it!

The eco-kids had a great time learning about the history and culture of the Maya, and were eager to ask lots of questions for Mr. Choco and Mrs. Baldwin. Some of the group’s favorite notes were on the Maya’s extensive studies of mathematics, astronomy, and large-scale agriculture! It is very important to Chaa Creek and the Eco-Kids Camp that the cultural history of this beautiful country be not only preserved, but the legacies and stories passed on through generations.

Please check back in tomorrow and join the children as they go horseback riding and study the expanse of medicinal plants found here in the Belize jungle!

Songs Of The Day: Ham & Eggs, Shine Eye Gial

The campers started the first full day of camp early Monday morning around the campfire singing traditional Belizean songs. But their energy really showed once they had Mr. Docio’s wife fried jacks, huevos rancheros, and sausage in their bellies! After breakfast, the campers rolled the game-wheel and participated in the group game: wizards, gnomes, and trolls. By this time the sun was hot and the air was thick, so everyone really worked up a sweat!

After the game, the campers cooled down in the dining area for arts and crafts time. Under the guidance of the resident expert eco-artist Miss Lilly, each camper made their own “jungle journal” from recycled materials, which they will use to take personal notes on each day’s activities. They were immediately put to use when they were told that they would be quizzed on the information they learn throughout the day.

No sooner than the eco-kids finished their jungle journals they were off on a guided bird watching tour from one of Chaa Creek’s naturalist experts. Among Belize’s hundreds of species of birds, they saw the King Vulture, Blueblack Grassquit, and Blue Crowned Mot Mot, to which they also learned the call. The eco-kids repeated “good cook” in a deep voice to mimic the call of the Mot Mot and kindly ask for a response.

The bird watching hike was followed up by tours of Chaa Creek’s Natural History Centerand Butterfly Farm to learn the importance of biodiversity and conservation. In the NHC, the eco-kids saw various animal skulls (Jaguar, Tapir, Kinkaju, Gibnot, Howler Monkey) as well as what a traditional ancient Maya home may look like, to conserve the cultural history of Belize. They were also amazed to learn that the Maya believed that humans were made of their staple crop, corn!

Inside the Butterfly Farm they received a lecture on the lifecycle of the Blue Morpho butterfly with first-hand evidence of all life stages! It lays eggs on the leaves of the ant plant tree, as they contain 1% cyanide, which protect them from predators looking for snacks as they go through their first few stages of life.

Although the eco-kids were excited about the hiking from the morning, the relentless sun made them even more excited for lunch at the lodge and then a trip to the pool to cool off. They played freeze tag, chicken, and relaxed by the poolside before they hiked back to the River Camp to….play more group games!

After a long day and another delicious dinner provided Mr. Docio and his family, the campers and counselors sat by the fireside telling stories and performing skits into the night before heading off to bed.

Check in tomorrow to follow the eco-kids jungle adventures as they learn the importance of the ancient Maya in Belize.